Bank Australia has demonstrated its commitment to ensuring financial disadvantage is not a barrier to education, establishing a perpetual scholarship for the QUT Learning Potential Fund.
The Fund provides financial support to around 2000 students each year who are facing circumstances that could prevent them from completing their degree.
Launched in the lead-up to Anti-Poverty Week (16-22 October), the Bank Australia Learning Potential Fund Scholarship will help one financially struggling student undertake a QUT undergraduate degree each year.
The scholarship has been set up in perpetuity, with Bank Australia donating $125,000 to ensure this gift will keep on giving.
Bank Australia CEO Damien Walsh says the Learning Potential Fund is a great way for the organisation to build on a long term commitment to addressing educational disadvantage.
“We’re in business to create mutual prosperity – which means creating value for our customers, the communities they live in and the planet we all live on. The Bank Australia Learning Potential Fund Scholarship is a great example of mutual prosperity in action.
“Education can provide the means to break out of disadvantage and having met some of the previous recipients of a scholarship from the Fund, I can see how vital this support has been to helping set them up for the future,” says Damien.
Simone Garske, Director of Alumni and Development at QUT said that the establishment of the scholarships demonstrate Bank Australia’s commitment to the community.
“Investing in education and equity is an imperative aspect of building a strong, diverse and innovative community,” says Simone.
“We are so grateful to Bank Australia for assisting these ambitious students to achieve their degrees and reach their full potential.”
Bank Australia has taken their Anti-Poverty Week action a step further, starting a food bank at their Brisbane city branch to help financially struggling students.
More than two-thirds of Australian students report worrying about their financial situation, and an average of 17 per cent reported regularly going without food or other necessities because they were unable to afford them.
To encourage donations from Bank Australia staff and the wider community, Bank Australia has partnered with Merlo Coffee George Street, providing a free coffee to every customer who donates an item.
All donations to the food bank will be given to the QUT Guild, who will distribute the gifts to students in need.
Anti-Poverty Week encourages all Australians to take part in an activity helping overcome or highlight issues of poverty and hardship here in Australia or overseas.
To learn more about the QUT Learning Potential Fund or make a gift, please visit our website.
To learn more about Bank Australia please visit bankaust.com.au
Media contacts
QUT:
Rose Trapnell, QUT media team leader, 07 3138 2361 or 0407 585 901 rose.trapnell@qut.edu.au
Bank Australia: Fiona Nixon, Head of Corporate Affairs, 03 9854 3350
